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This article looks at the new Chinese anti-trust law or anti-monopoly law, and recent decisions by the Chinese government involving international mergers and acquisition.
Matthew Murphy
18 May 2010
China's New Anti-Trust Regime

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Another Interesting Competition Law from China?s Anti-Monopoly Bureau
On 24 April 2009, China?s Ministry of Commerce (?MOFCOM?) published yet another
controversial decision from its fledgling Anti-Monopoly Bureau (?AMB?) concerning
the acquisition of British owned chemical producer, Lucite, by Mitsubishi Rayon.
Approval was granted to the transaction, following approvals from every other
competition bureau around the world, however that approval was made subject to some
controversial conditions.
On 24 April 2009, China?s Ministry of Commerce (?MOFCOM?) published yet another
controversial decision from its fledgling Anti-Monopoly Bureau (?AMB?) concerning the
acquisition of British owned chemical producer, Lucite, by Mitsubishi Rayon. Approval was
granted to the transaction, following approvals from every other competition bureau around
the world, however that approval was made subject to some controversial conditions:
?(1) Production Capacity ?Peeling off?
Lucite International (China) Chemical Co., LTD (Lucite China) shall peel off 50% of its
yearly production capacity, and sell it to one or more of the purchaser's non-affiliated parties
(third party purchaser), within 5 years. The third party purchaser shall have the right to buy
Lucite China's MMA products at production cost and management cost (cost price, without
any additional profit), the cost price will be verified yearly by the independent auditors.
Management, Markets and Legal Consulting Group
Beijing Brisbane Guangzhou
April 28, 2009
Page 2
If the production capacity peeling off is not completed within the time limit, both parties agree
that the MOFCOM shall have the right to assign independent trustee to sell 100% of the
shares of Lucite China to a third party (whole peeing off). The peeling off shall be
commenced within 6 months time. If the Lucite Company has reasonable ground to postpone,
then MOFCOM shall have the right to extend the above time limit for another 6 months
(peeling off term).
(2) Independent Operation of Lucite Chinese Company until Completion of Capacity Peel off
During the period from the completion of proposed transaction until the completion of the
whole capacity peeling off (independent operation period ), Mitsubishi Company and Lucite
China Company's monomer MMA business in China will be operated independently, have
their respective management and board members.
Within the independent operation period, the concentration parties shall sell MMA in China
on the basis of mutual competition, the two companies shall not exchange the pricing of
relevant Chinese market, customers and other competitive information.
Within the independent operation period, if the concentration parties violate their
commitments and cause serious violations, they will have to pay the penalty with a total
amount between RMB 500,000 and RMB 250,000, the specific amount will be decided by the
MOFCOM according to the nature of the relevant serious violations and the impact on China's
market competition.
(3) No New purchase And No New Plant for the Next Five Years
Without prior approval of the MOFCOM, the Mitsubishi Company shall not engage in the
following actions within 5 years after the proposed transaction settlement:
1. Purchase of MMA monomer and PMMA polymer or casting plastic manufacturers in
China.
2. Establishment of new MA monomer and PMMA polymer or casting plastic plants in
China.?
The conditions seem to be unnecessarily burdensome given that the market share of the
merged entity seems to be below 40% in China and throughout the world. One would have to
wonder whether submissions from Chinese MMA suppliers have indicated that they would be
interested in purchasing Lucite or at least a large percentage of Lucite?s Chinese production
capabilities ? it seems that MOFCOM may end up taking on a new role of business broker, if
it continues to issue these types of decisions.
April 28, 2009
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matthew Murphy - mmurphy@mmlcgroup.com
A fluent Chinese speaker, Matthew has over 18 years of China and Asia Pacific legal
and business experience, focusing on IP, M&A (including competition law), tax,
disputes and investments. Matthew has been listed as a leading corporate lawyer by
various publishers and institutions and is an ADR panelist with the Hong Kong
International Arbitration Centre, and the Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution
Centre. He is currently the China Chair of the International Technology Lawyers
Association, and a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Queensland
Law Society, Law Society of England and Wales, Australian Institute of Company
Directors, the International Trademarks Association and the Intellectual Property
Society of Australia and New Zealand. Prior to joining MMLC, he was with
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Hong Kong and London).